Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Whales Stash Billions—Is This a Pre-Bull Run Play?

Dormant Ethereum whale activity has reignited interest in the cryptocurrency, with a long-silent wallet purchasing $28 million worth of ETH on Kraken. This move has triggered discussions about accumulation and a potential bullish trend for Ethereum. The address involved in the transaction last interacted with the exchange in 2021, highlighting a strategic buy at a time when the price of Ether had dropped over 13% from $5,000 to $4,315. Such large-scale purchases are typically seen as a sign of long-term confidence rather than short-term trading, reinforcing a narrative of Ethereum being bought on the dip rather than sold under pressure. Additional whale activity further supports this trend, with one address purchasing and staking around $2.55 billion in ETH via Hyperliquid, while BitMine added $252 million in Ether, raising its total holdings to 797,704 ETH. These cumulative purchases and the influx of funds into spot Ethereum ETFs, which have attracted over $1 billion in inflows since August 21, signal a broader consensus among market participants that Ethereum’s recent dip is being viewed as a strategic entry point [1].

Ethereum's price movement has also shown signs of a "V-shaped" recovery, a pattern historically associated with major bull runs. Analysts have noted that Ethereum's current trajectory mirrors its recovery from the 2020 pandemic lows and its rebound from under $1,200 in 2022 to above $2,000 in 2023. The cryptocurrency has rebounded from summer lows near $3,350 to above $4,000, forming a pattern that suggests the potential for a significant upward movement in the coming months. Standard Chartered’s Geoffrey Kendrick has predicted Ether could reach $7,500 by the end of the year, aligning with this optimistic sentiment. The broader implications of Ethereum’s technical setup and institutional buying suggest a possible climb toward $10,000–$20,000 in the near term. This potential is further supported by the blockchain’s role in large stablecoin transactions and the GENIUS Act, which may accelerate Ethereum’s adoption in this space [2].

In parallel with Ethereum's developments, XRP has also shown a strong accumulation trend, with crypto whales buying nearly $760 million worth of the token over the past eight trading days. Santiment data reveals that major XRP holders have increased their holdings by 3.3%, with significant confidence in the coin’s future performance. This trend is further supported by institutional interest, as evidenced by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) reporting that open interest for XRP futures contracts has surpassed $1 billion for the first time. This milestone makes XRP futures the fastest-growing contract in CME’s history, with Nate Geraci of The ETF Store noting that demand for XRP investment products could surge once U.S. SEC approves spot ETFs. Traders and analysts are eyeing a potential rally for XRP, with some projecting it could trade above $10 by the end of the year [4].

Ether's resilience has also been evident in the context of broader market dynamics. Despite Bitcoin’s mixed performance, Ethereum has held above the critical $4,700 level, indicating strong support. The price action on the four-hour chart shows a consolidation phase with a bearish fair value gap that remains to be invalidated. Analysts are watching for a decisive move above $4,700, which would confirm the continuation of a bullish trend and open the path toward $5,000. Conversely, a failure to reclaim this level could lead to a deeper correction, aligning with historical patterns. The leverage ratio on Binance has also reached record highs, indicating heightened risk and the potential for sharp liquidations, especially with weekly long liquidations peaking on Mondays [3].

Stablecoin inflows and ETH withdrawals from major exchanges further reinforce the narrative of Ethereum being accumulated rather than sold. Binance alone has recorded over $1.65 billion in stablecoin deposits this month, with Ether withdrawals totaling nearly 208,000 ETH (worth $1 billion). These movements suggest that investors are moving assets into cold storage, reducing sell-side pressure and supporting a long-term bullish position. The combination of institutional and whale activity, along with ETF inflows, has created a robust environment for Ethereum to potentially break out to the upside. However, the market must navigate rising leverage and the risk of forced liquidations before such a move becomes sustainable [3].

Source:

[1] Dormant Ethereum Whale Buys $28M ETH, Ignites 'V'-Recovery (https://cointelegraph.com/news/dormant-ethereum-whale-buys-28m-eth-v-recovery)

[2] Ether, Ethereum's Coin, Breaks 2021 All-Time High (https://www.axios.com/2025/08/24/ether-all-time-high)

[3] ETH Rallies But $4.7K Remains Key Pivot Point (https://cointelegraph.com/news/eth-rallies-against-bitcoin-but-dollar4-7k-must-flip-to-support)

[4] XRP USD Bulls Eye $10, Bitcoin Hyper Presale Hits $12.3M (https://99bitcoins.com/news/presales/major-xrp-whale-accumulation-underway-xrp-usd-could-hit-10-in-q4-heres-why/)